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How to Prevent a Colleague Who Scammed Multiple People from Repeating This in Future Jobs?
I recently experienced a difficult situation with a colleague and could use some advice. A new colleague at my company asked me for money to avoid getting kicked out of his apartment. I… Hi everyone,
I recently experienced a difficult situation with a colleague and could use some advice. A new colleague at my company asked me for money to avoid getting kicked out of his apartment. I lent him the money, but he kept postponing repayment. After repeatedly asking him to pay me back, I finally made the difficult decision to involve HR.
It turns out that this colleague had borrowed money from multiple people at our company and did the same at his previous company. Fortunately, my manager had him sign a document acknowledging that he owes us money, and HR promptly fired him.
My questions are:
How can we prevent him from repeating this behavior at other companies?
What legal procedures should we consider to protect ourselves and potentially warn future employers about his behavior?
Thanks in advance for any advice or insights!
File a police report for fraud. Berlin police handle this kind of thing at the Landeskriminalamt, and if he's done it at multiple companies, that starts to look like a pattern of deception rather than just a personal loan gone bad. The debt acknowledgment your manager got is useful evidence.
For the reference question: your company's standard practice is probably just confirming employment dates, which is the safe route. But if you're in a specific Berlin industry like the startup scene around Mitte or Kreuzberg, the informal network is actually more effective. People talk at events like the Berlin Tech Meetups or over coffee at Silo Coffee near Warschauer. Just keep it verbal and factual.
yeah the police route is worth considering but be realistic about what'll happen. berlin police are swamped and a few thousand euro loan disputes between colleagues isn't exactly their priority unless there's a clear fraud pattern with fake documents involved. the acknowledgment letter helps but it's basically a civil matter.
what i'd actually do is check if he's listed on any industry blacklists or forums. the berlin freelancer community has a few private telegram groups and slack channels where people share warnings about clients and colleagues who pull this stuff. it's not exactly legal but it's how things actually work here.
also worth mentioning to your HR that they should do proper reference checks going forward. a quick call to his previous company's HR might have caught this before he started. most places won't volunteer bad info but if you ask directly "did this person have any issues borrowing money from colleagues" they can answer truthfully without risking anything
honestly, beyond telling his previous employer what happened (which they probably already know since hr fired him), there's not much legal that'll stick. german labor law is pretty strict about what you can share with future employers without risking a defamation lawsuit. you can mention the debt acknowledgment document if someone calls for a reference, but most companies just confirm dates and job titles these days.
if you really want to warn others, word of mouth in your industry circles in berlin is way more effective than trying any legal route. tech scene here is smaller than people think, and stories like this travel fast between companies on torstraße or around the alexanderplatz startups. just be careful not to put anything in writing that could be traced back to you.
also, maybe suggest your company adds a clause in future contracts about lending money to coworkers being against policy. it's a weird thing to have to specify but clearly needed after this
Berlin on a Budget: Tips 2026
Stay in hostels like Generator Berlin Mitte (starting at 25 EUR per night) or book a room via Airbnb in less central districts like Neukölln or Wedding for lower rates.… 🏨 Affordable Accommodation
Stay in hostels like Generator Berlin Mitte (starting at 25 EUR per night) or book a room via Airbnb in less central districts like Neukölln or Wedding for lower rates. Consider visiting in the shoulder seasons (April-May or September-October) when prices drop by up to 30%.
🚇 Cheap Transport Options
A single public transport ticket costs 3.50 EUR for zones AB, covering most attractions. For longer stays, buy a 7-day ticket for 41 EUR or a Berlin WelcomeCard for unlimited travel and museum discounts. Locals often bike everywhere using the city's extensive bike lanes or rent a bike via Nextbike for 1 EUR per 30 minutes.
🍽️ Eating on a Budget
Grab a currywurst from a street stall for around 3.50 EUR or a döner kebab for 5-6 EUR. For groceries, head to Aldi or Lidl where a loaf of bread costs 1.50 EUR. Many bakeries sell pre-made sandwiches for under 4 EUR, perfect for a picnic in Tiergarten.
🎫 Free Attractions
Visit the Reichstag dome for free (book online in advance) and explore the East Side Gallery, a 1.3 km open-air gallery on the Berlin Wall. On Sundays, many museums offer reduced entry or free admission, such as the Museum für Naturkunde (first Sunday of the month free).
💰 Money-Saving Tips
Locals avoid tourist traps by eating at Späti (corner shops) for cheap drinks and snacks. Use the Berlin Pass for free entry to over 50 attractions if you plan to visit many sites, but calculate costs first as it starts at 59 EUR for 48 hours. Always carry cash, as some smaller shops and cafes don't accept cards.
🏛️ Discount Museum Days
Most state museums are free on the first Sunday of each month, including the Pergamon Museum and Neues Museum. On Thursday evenings, the Jewish Museum offers free entry from 6 PM to 8 PM. Check individual museum websites for updated schedules.
🌳 Free Outdoor Activities
Spend a day at Tempelhofer Feld, a former airport turned public park with free bike rentals and BBQ areas. Rent a paddleboat on the Spree River for 10 EUR per hour or join a free walking tour (tip-based) that covers major landmarks like Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie.
yeah the guide's got the main stuff down, one thing i'd add is that the späti culture is legit for saving money but specifically the ones in kreuzberg near kottbusser tor have the cheapest beers, like 0.80 eur for a can of sterni. also if you're doing the sunday museum thing, skip the pergamon queue and go to the hamburger bahnhof instead, it's way less crowded and has cool contemporary art plus the building itself is a converted train station so it's a vibe
for food, i'd say the best budget move is not the döner but the falafel at yafa on sonnenallee, 4 eur for a massive plate and it's open till late. and tbh the reichstag booking is a pain but if you miss it, the rooftop at the kollhoff tower near potsdamer platz is like 4 eur and gives you a solid view without the hassle
solid write-up, one thing i'd add is that the 7-day ticket is actually 41 eur for AB but you can get a 4-trip ticket for 12 eur if you're only here a couple days and it works out cheaper than single trips. also the museum sunday freebie is great but it gets packed, like at the pergamon you'll be queuing for 30 mins minimum. for a quieter free option, try the brücke museum in grunewald on a weekday afternoon, it's small but has killer expressionist art and no crowds. oh and for a cheap meal, hit up mustafa's gemüse kebab at mehringdamm, that line is long but it's worth the 5 eur for the hype tbh
honestly the cash tip is huge, a lot of tourists don't realize how many places are still cash only here. something the guide missed is that you can get a really cheap coffee at most bakeries for like 1.50 eur if you stand at the counter instead of sitting down, way cheaper than the hipster cafes. also if you're near a späti grab a beer for like 1 eur, way cheaper than bars obviously